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[208]
When Arion was apprized that this was the king's disposition, and
that he had no way to help himself, he gave the child a thousand talents,
and was let out of prison. So after three days were over, Hyrcanus came
and saluted the king and queen. They saw him with pleasure, and feasted
him in an obliging manner, out of the respect they bare to his father.
So he came to the merchants privately, and bought a hundred boys, that
had learning, and were in the flower of their ages, each at a talent apiece;
as also he bought a hundred maidens, each at the same price as the other.
And when he was invited to feast with the king among the principal men
in the country, he sat down the lowest of them all, because he was little
regarded, as a child in age still; and this by those who placed every one
according to their dignity. Now when all those that sat with him had laid
the bones Of the several parts on a heap before Hyrcanus, (for they had
themselves taken away the flesh belonging to them,) till the table where
he sat was filled full with them, Trypho, who was the king's jester, and
was appointed for jokes and laughter at festivals, was now asked by the
guests that sat at the table [to expose him to laughter]. So he stood by
the king, and said, "Dost thou not see, my lord, the bones that lie
by Hyrcanus? by this similitude thou mayst conjecture that his father made
all Syria as bare as he hath made these bones." And the king laughing
at what Trypho said, and asking of Hyrcanus, How he came to have so many
bones before him? he replied," Very rightfully, my lord; for they
are dogs that eat the flesh and the bones together, as these thy guests
have done, (looking in the mean time at those guests,) for there is nothing
before them; but they are men that eat the flesh, and cast away the hones,
as I, who am also a man, have now done." Upon which the king admired
at his answer, which was so wisely made; and bid them all make an acclamation,
as a mark of their approbation of his jest, which was truly a facetious
one. On the next day Hyrcanus went to every one of the king's friends,
and of the men powerful at court, and saluted them; but still inquired
of the servants what present they would make the king on his son's birthday;
and when some said that they would give twelve talents, and that others
of greater dignity would every one give according to the quantity of their
riches, he pretended to every one of them to be grieved that he was not
able to bring so large a present; for that he had no more than five talents.
And when the servants heard what he said, they told their masters; and
they rejoiced in the prospect that Joseph would be disapproved, and would
make the king angry, by the smallness of his present. When the day came,
the others, even those that brought the most, offered the king not above
twenty talents; but Hyrcanus gave to every one of the hundred boys and
hundred maidens that he had bought a talent apiece, for them to carry,
and introduced them, the boys to the king, and the maidens to Cleopatra;
every body wondering at the unexpected richness of the presents, even the
king and queen themselves. He also presented those that attended about
the king with gifts to the value of a great number of talents, that he
might escape the danger he was in from them; for to these it was that Hyrcanus's
brethren had written to destroy him. Now Ptolemy admired at the young man's
magnanimity, and commanded him to ask what gift he pleased. But he desired
nothing else to be done for him by the king than to write to his father
and brethren about him. So when the king had paid him very great respects,
and had given him very large gifts, and had written to his father and his
brethren, and all his commanders and officers, about him, he sent him away.
But when his brethren heard that Hyrcanus had received such favors from
the king, and was returning home with great honor, they went out to meet
him, and to destroy him, and that with the privity of their father; for
he was angry at him for the [large] sum of money that he bestowed for presents,
and so had no concern for his preservation. However, Joseph concealed the
anger he had at his son, out of fear of the king. And when Hyrcanus's brethren
came to fight him, he slew many others of those that were with them, as
also two of his brethren themselves; but the rest of them escaped to Jerusalem
to their father. But when Hyrcanus came to the city, where nobody would
receive him, he was afraid for himself, and retired beyond the river Jordan,
and there abode, but obliging the barbarians to pay their taxes.
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